Confessions of a human, weak-willed, short-cut taking Homeschooler

I have the privilege to share my heart and life with a wide variety of people and friends. Through it all -- I hear one thing ring true: people want to know that you're "real". Over the past few months especially I've thought a lot about this "real" word and what it is that they (we, really) want to hear. In the end, the ultimate conclusion I've come to can be summed up in a well-known saying -- MISERY LOVES COMPANY.
In light of this, I've decided to share with you some of the ways I am "real" -- in spite of my oh-so-beautiful-looking-life on my blog. By the way, I am richly blessed and thus desire, above all, to give God glory through my words and pictures and thoughts and revealings. With that said -- here are real life confessions of a human, weak-willed, short-cut taking Homeschooler:

1. Although I make homemade granola, I rarely eat it nor does my family. They prefer the "Frosted Mini-Wheats" and "Honey Bunches of Oats" (preservative-laden and store bought) cereal they find on the second shelf up.
2. I never spend money or take the time to wash my face except in the shower each morning with plain ol' soap.
3. This morning I tried on 3 different pair of pants until I found one that I could live with and not feel like every bulge of cellulite was readily transparent to the outside world.
4. I must constantly give over my fears (particularly about sleep) to God all throughout my day.
5. When I can't get my jobs done, I lament and whine, and eventually call and hire my teenage neighbors to come and help me. One will arrive today at 3:00 to do my ironing for an hour.
6. I regularly feel guilty about number 5.
7. I have been randomly addicted to Diet Coke since I was 14 years old. I am nearly 39. I'll let you do the math. Yes, I realize that I'll probably die a slow and agonizing death via esophageal cancer anytime now.
8. I don't actually plant many of my summer annuals. Instead, I buy hanging baskets already planted and full. Then I plop them deep into my big pots and call it good. (Easy cleanup in the fall, don't you know).
9. I sometimes REALLY DON'T ENJOY practicing violin with my 6 year old daughter.
10. I do occasionally have moments when I want to run away from home -- not for a long period of time mind you ... just a full day without hearing that treasured and yet, admittedly irritating word, "Mooooommmmmmmyyyyyyy."
11. Sometimes ... okay, many times -- I don't actually TEACH a math lesson to my 5th grader. Instead, I just circle the problems he needs to complete and ask, "Do you understand this?"
12. I have been known to check my email many, many times throughout my day before feeling the huge wave of "What are you doing??!!!" Quit it! This thing has some sort of addictive gamma waves shooting out and absorbing into my brain or something.
13. Okay, cereal for dinner happens once a week (if not more sometimes!) at this house. I admit it. I really DON'T like cooking.
14. I bake bread probably 5 times a year. Total. I just buy my 100% whole wheat Orowheat at Costco already sliced and ready for PB and J.
15. Speaking of peanut butter -- I've tried that gooey organic stuff with all the oil on top. I can't do it. I want to. I want people to see it in my pantry. I hide the Skippy Creamy behind the homemade granola that is probably stale and moldy.
16. I vacuum nearly every day. It has nothing to do with clean floors. It's therapy. I know that may seem sick, demented, anal retentive, obsessive compulsive -- nothing you say will shock me, I've heard it all -- mostly from my own mother.
17. I try to eat healthy -- really I do ... until I pass by Dairy Queen and those "chocolate extreme" blizzards just seem to suck me in like a bad tornado dream.
18. I have a beautiful, wonderful gal named Gina who my husband loves to pay well to come and clean my bathrooms (and other rooms) at least twice a month. I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy, I'm not .......
19. I still, ashamedly, at this late age in life struggle with nervous habits. My kids have all inherited this. What a shame. Our family is one big TYPE A. I wish desperately that I was a calm, quiet, meek, timid, woman of God ... but alas! I think I'll have to be in a coma before this is going to happen.
20. Finally, sometimes (like today because I'm behind schedule from writing this post) I opt to make cookies or clean closets rather than doing first grade work with my daughter. Hey! She's learning valuable skills right??! Especially how to eat the cookie dough when no one is looking!